Writing good prompts
Writing good prompts
Four parts of a good prompt
graph LR
A["🎯 Goal<br/>what I want"] --> B["📋 Context<br/>for whom, why"]
B --> C["📁 Source<br/>from what"]
C --> D["✅ Expectations<br/>format, length, tone"]
| Part | Question | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | What should Copilot do? | Prepare a short project status |
| Context | For whom and why? | for the CEO, for Thursday’s management meeting |
| Source | Based on what? | e-mails from Tomáš Baláž and the file Zakazky_2025_2026.xlsx |
| Expectations | What should the output look like? | max. 1 page, 3 risks in a table, factual tone |
Weak prompt: “Write a report about the project.”
Good prompt: “Prepare a short status of the D1 WIM Prešov project for the CEO for Thursday’s management meeting. Use the e-mails from Tomáš Baláž from the last week and the file /Zakazky_2025_2026.xlsx. Max. 1 page: status, cost vs. budget, the 3 main risks in a table and the decision we need from management. Factual tone.”
More tips
- Reference sources – type
/and pick a file, e-mail, meeting or person. - Iterate – the first answer is a draft. Continue: “shorter”, “add a table”, “more formal”, “what did I miss?”.
- Give a role: “You are an experienced controller…”, “Answer as a lawyer…”.
- Let Copilot ask: “What information do you need to do this well?”
- Split a big task into smaller steps.
- Save good prompts and build your personal library.
- Don’t paste passwords or personal data that the task doesn’t need.